Most Requested

History

George Santayana wrote, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." History provides knowledge for unlocking all other realms of human development. The study of history provides a solid foundation not only for history and social studies education majors, but for careers in law, business, government, international relations, journalism, library services and museums, to name but a few.

Undergraduate History Courses

The number in parentheses following course title indicates units of credit given for the class. To learn when a particular course will be offered you can check EagleNet, the History Department bulletin board, the history advisors, and or the course instructor.

HIST 102 World History: To 1500 (5)

This course surveys the major events, developments and personalities that have shaped the civilizations of the world from the first appearance of Homo sapiens to the start of the Renaissance. A comparative approach will be applied to the great themes of civilization with details from everyday life.

HIST 103 World History: From 1500 (5)

This course surveys the major trends in world history from 1500 to 2000, emphasizing the expansion of Europeans around the globe since Columbus reached the New World and the effects on non-European peoples ever since. A comparative approach will be applied to the great themes of civilization with details from everyday life.

HIST 104 East Asia: Tradition and Transformation (5)

[Satisfies international studies university graduation requirement.]

The political, social, cultural and other aspects of the Chinese, Japanese and Korean heritage from antiquity to the present. The course deals with forces which shaped these Asian nations.

HIST 105 Western Heritage: Origins to the 18th Century (5)

[Satisfies the GECR for social sciences, list 3, history.]

The origins and early development of the political, social, cultural and other aspects of our Western heritage.

HIST 106 Western Heritage: 18th Century to the Present (5)

[Satisfies the GECR for social sciences, list 3, history.]

The political, social, cultural and other aspects of the western heritage from the 18th century. The course deals with the forces which shape the modern world.

HIST 110 The American Experience: A Survey (5)

[Satisfies the GECR for social sciences, list 3, history.]

A broad survey of unique features of the American experience, this course examines the origins and development of the American social, economic and political heritage on the domestic and international scenes.

A study of Chicano history from the time of the Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo in 1848, to the present. Specific themes discussed include the Mexican American War, the Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo of 1848, the economic, political and social conditions after the Anglo-American conquest of the southwest, Mexican immigration to the U.S., Chicano labor history, the Chicano movement and other Chicano themes. (Cross-listed CHST 218)

HIST 290 History Today: Issues and Practices (5)

An introduction to history as a discipline, the theoretical issues relevant to the discipline today and the organization of the history profession in the United States. Topics to be covered include: an overview of modern historiography; why historians interpret the past in different and often contested ways; problems of historical method, objectivity, causation, periodization and categories of historical analysis (such as nation-state, gender, race and class); and publications, professional organizations and careers in history.

HIST 299 Special Studies (1-5)Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

Subjects studied vary according to faculty and student interest.

HIST 300 Special Topics in History (1-5)

A series of specialized studies of different areas of history, such as conservation, urban history, science and technology. The topics are announced each quarter and may or may not be offered each year.

HIST 301 History of the Present (5)

[Satisfies international studies university graduation requirement.]

The historical background of contemporary problems and events, such as the Arab-Israeli conflict. Topics vary with changes in the world situation.

HIST 303 U.S. History, 1607-1877 (5)

This course is designed primarily, but not exclusively, for history majors and minors and is required as part of the social studies major core. It examines aspects of this nation's political, economic, cultural and social development from its time of English settlement to the end of Reconstruction.

HIST 304 U.S. History, 1877-Present (5)

This course is designed primarily, but not exclusively, for history majors and minors and is required as part of the social studies major core. It emphasizes American's unfinished journey from the end of Reconstruction to the present. Emphasis is also given to the vast changes in American culture and society since the Civil War.

An advanced course emphasizing the historical roots of the reform tradition, the political system, the American role in world affairs and the evolution of the American social structure.

HIST 306 Modern Europe (5)

A study of political, social, cultural, diplomatic, economic and other issues in Europe of the 19th and 20th centuries.

HIST 310 Imperial China (5)

[Satisfies international studies university graduation requirement.]

This class surveys the imperial era of Chinese history from the Qin dynasty to the mid-Qing (221 BC-1800 AD).

HIST 311 Colonialism and Nationalism in Southeast Asia (5)

This is a comparative study of indigenous peoples in Southeast Asia and how they have reacted to European, American, Japanese and Soviet expansion into this region, focusing on the period 1500 to 2000. Students will be challenged to critically examine the long-term political, social and economic processes that have shaped the S.E. Asia of the present day.

American history often focuses on the Atlantic migration and its consequences. Not all Americans have European origins. Many immigrants came from Asia. This course with an emphasis on the Pacific migration examines the experience of these Asian immigrants and their descendants in the United States from the 1840s to the present. The discussions give preference to six major ethnic groups: Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, Vietnamese and Asian Indian. Their collective history will be studied within the broad context of American history, involving various historical themes such as westward expansion, modern industrialization, urban development, international conflict, immigration policy, labor unrest, reform movement and cultural exchanges. The purpose of this course is to deepen our understanding of American history as well as our multicultural society.

HIST 315 African History (5)

[Satisfies international studies university graduation requirement.]

A survey of African history from prehistory to the present. Emphasizes earlier African civilizations, extensive contact with the outside world and the formation of African nations. (Cross-listed AAST/HONS 315)

HIST 320 Middle Eastern History and Culture (5)

Examines the various ethnic, religious and national communities of the Middle East in historical and contemporary context. (Cross-listed ANTH 320 and GEOG 320)

HIST 334 The Historical Geography of Canada (4)

Canada occupies a strategic place in world geography owing to its central location with regard to Europe, Asia and the United States, its resource base, its role in regional and world organizations and the distinctive national characteristics and traditions that its peoples have developed. This course provides an overview of the major geographic regions of Canada based on physical environments, history, settlement patterns, natural resources, transportation and industry, urbanization and cultural and ethnic diversity. (Cross-listed GEOG 334)

HIST 336 Geographies of Conflict in the Middle East (5)

Examines the Middle East and its various ethnic, political, economic, religious and environmental conflicts from a geographic perspective. The course's holistic combination of geographic and anthropological inquiry will offer insights into how the natural environment and built environment interact and engage with the cultural and political landscapes of the Middle East. (Cross-listed ANTH 336 and GEOG 336)

HIST 338 Discovering Women in Science (1)

The course uses several scientific themes to rediscover from the past and find in contemporary research, the women who have made significant contributions to science. (Cross-listed BIOL 338, CHEM 338, GEOL 338, PHYS 338, PSYC 338, WMST 338)

HIST 341 The Renaissance and the Reformation (5) Prerequisite: HIST 105 or permission of the instructor.

History of Europe from the 14th through the 16th Centuries. This course examines the religious, artistic and intellectual developments of the period in their social and political context.

HIST 350 War and Society (5)

[Satisfies international studies university graduation requirement.]

A survey of military technology, strategy and tactics and their relationship to non-military aspects of society from the Middle Ages to the present. Emphasis is on European land warfare, but aerial, naval and non-European aspects are not excluded.

HIST 351 Gender in the Century of Total War (5)

This course explores the relationship between social constructions of gender and the history of war in the 20th century. Topics include how gender is used to justify war and the use of gender ideologies in pacifist movements. The course also looks at ways that individual men and women experienced war and war's effects on the social, sexual, psychological, political and economic aspects of individuals' lives. (Cross-listed WMST 351)

HIST 360 History of Spain (5)

A history of Spain from pre-Roman times to the present, with special emphasis on the Imperial Hapsburg years, the Bourbon Enlightenment and the Napoleonic era. Implicit inclusion of the concurrent developments of Western civilization.

HIST 365 Latin American History (5)

[Satisfies international studies university graduation requirement.]

Covers Spanish and Portuguese conquests in the Western hemisphere and the formation of a new civilization. The Hispanic colonial centuries, the revolutions for independence and subsequent experiences with dictatorships and democracy punctuate dramatic and distinct histories.

HIST 373 History of the American Wilderness (5)

The course explores the ways men and women have lived in and thought about their natural environment in the United States. It begins with the colonists who thought of the wilderness as a realm to conquer and concludes with the contemporary American environmentalists who seek to "preserve" the wilderness.

HIST 382 20th Century Germany, From World Wars to Cold War. Culture, Political Conflict and National Identity (5) Prerequisite: ENGL 201 or permission of the instructor.

[Satisfies international studies university graduation requirement.]

This interdisciplinary course introduces students to central problems in German history and culture, from the end of World War I to the end of the Cold War. Topics addressed include: the impact of World War I on German national identity; Avant-garde culture in the Weimar Republic; the rise of fascism and daily Life in Nazi Germany; the Holocaust; cultural and political divides between East and West Germany. (Cross-listed GERM 382)

HIST 389 Public History (5) Prerequisites: HIST 110 and permission of the instructor.

Research using regional public and private collections to prepare both the general historian and the urban and regional planner for service in the fields of local history, museology and historic preservation. Required of students in public history field.

This seminar is designed to help advanced history students develop the skills needed to conduct primary-source research and write successful papers. This course prepares students for work in other advanced history courses, in the history capstone course, writing papers for academic conferences and for graduate study in history and related fields.

HIST 392 Women in the American West (4)

This course examines the lives of frontier women using a variety of primary sources (letters, diaries, oral histories), as well as secondary sources (books, articles, movies, tapes). (Cross-listed WMST 392)

Brings to life and surveys the accomplishments of the "lost women'' of our past from colonial times to the present. Society's definition of the nature of women and their proper roles is examined as well as the actual life conditions of women and the social and economic functions they performed.(Cross-listed WMST 394)

HIST 395 History Internship (1-5) Prerequisites: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.

An opportunity for history students to work with historical agencies. Individual learning and career development contact is coordinated through Internship Programs.

HIST 405 Women and Men in History (1)

This course will deal with the placing of women and men within history. A comparative analysis will be made of the historical treatment given to both women and men. Using American history as an example, the workshop will set forth principles that will effectively help the classroom teacher create a gender balanced course and the student to recognize gender balance in history education. Attention will be given to non-sexist textbooks, audiovisual materials and testing. (Cross-listed WMST 405)

This course introduces the Evolution-Creation controversy, including the subfields of intellectual, cultural, scientific, legal, religious and political history. The course includes precursors to Darwin, Darwin's discovery of evolution through natural selection, evolution's reception by scientific and religious communities, the modern synthesis of evolutionary biology, legal challenges to teaching evolution and creationism in public schools, intelligent design and Kuhnian philosophy of science.

This course prepares students for jobs in public history. Students research and investigate problems in the practice of local history. The course is tailored for students specializing in public history.

HIST 408 Digital History: History and New Media (5) Prerequisite: HIST 110 and permission of instructor.

This reading seminar focuses on the possibilities and limitations of presenting history through the new media, including websites, streaming media, weblogs, podcasting and other digital forms.

HIST 410 China in the 19th and 20th Centuries (5)

A political, economic and diplomatic consideration of China from the late Qing dynasty, with particular emphasis on the rise of Chinese nationalism and communism as an aftermath of Western and Japanese imperialism in China.

HIST 411 Democracy and Human Rights in Asia (5)

This course examines the pitfalls, challenges and successes of using Western standards and practices for judging Asian governments. By understanding the history of government, crime and punishment, women's roles, and relations between rulers and the ruled over the past 2,000 years in East and Southeast Asia, a better understanding of the complexity of these issues will result.

HIST 416 Modern Japan (5)

[Satisfies international studies university graduation requirement.]

History of Japan as traditionalism is modified and the modern nation emerges, from the 17th century to the present.

HIST 425 Greek History to 400 BC (5)

Ancient Greece from earliest times to 400 BC. The art, archaeology and history of the Golden Age of Athens.

HIST 426 Hellenistic Greece (5)

The history of ancient Greece from 400 BC to 30 BC. This course will focus on Alexander the Great and the results of his conquests. The course covers the period from the end of the Peloponnesian War to the conquest of the East by Rome.

HIST 427 Roman Republic (5)

The course begins with the earliest settlements in Italy and follows the Western Greeks, Etruscans, Carthage and the foundations of Rome to 30 BC, the beginning of the reign of Augustus.

HIST 428 Roman Empire (5)

The history of Rome from Augustus to Constantine the Great (30 BC-337 AD). The course includes cultural as well as political developments.

HIST 429 Ancient Near East (5)

An intensive study of the ancient Near East including Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley and Assyria.

HIST 430 History of England to 1603 (5)

Various aspects of English history from the Roman conquest to 1603. Attention is given to social, cultural, economic and constitutional developments.

HIST 431 History of England 1603 to 1870 (5)

A history of England from 1603 to the late Victorian period, including a study of the cultural, economic and constitutional developments of the period.

HIST 432 Modern Britain Since 1870 (5)

From Victorian England, this course includes a consideration of the 19th century background. Stress is on the transition of Great Britain from the leading European naval, imperial and commercial power to a less certain position today in relation to Europe and the world.

HIST 433 British Empire Since 1850 (5)

From Victorian England to the aftermath of World War II, this course examines British Imperialism from its peak through the years of decolonization.

HIST 435 Irish History and Culture (5) Prerequisite: 5 credit hours of anthropology or 5 credit hours of history or advanced standing with permission of the instructor.

This course examines various aspects of Irish history and culture from prehistory to the present. Attention is given to religious, social, cultural, economic and political institutions and developments. (Cross-listed ANTH 435)

HIST 436 Politics of Culture: Israel and Palestine (5)

Examines the role of culture in the political struggles between Israelis and Palestinians. Explores the influence of national, religious, ethnic and historical narratives in the conceptualization of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This course will consider how a detailed knowledge of these 'politics of culture' can provide meaningful insights to potential avenues of cultural reconciliation and, ultimately, a more peaceful environment for Israelis and Palestinians. (Cross-listed ANTH 436 and GEOG 436)

HIST 440 History of World War I (4) Prerequisite: basic skills clearance in English composition or permission of the instructor.

The history of World War I, including the campaigns and major battles in all theaters, the technology, the diplomacy and the impact on the politics, society, economy, industry and other aspects of various home fronts.

HIST 441 History of World War II (4) Prerequisite: basic skills clearance in English composition or permission of the instructor.

The history of World War II, including the campaigns and major battles in all theaters, the war in the air and at sea, the technology, the diplomacy and the impact of the war on the politics, society, economy, industry and other aspects of various home fronts.

HIST 445 History of Modern Germany (5)

History of Germany in the 19th and 20th centuries.

HIST 448 French Revolution and Napoleon (5)

The history of the French Revolution and Napoleon, from the development of conditions leading to the Revolution through the Congress of Vienna. Emphasizes political, military and diplomatic developments.

The history of Russia to 1700. Major topics include the foundation of the Russian state and state expansion, Christianization, the Mongol conquest, the reign of Ivan the Terrible and Muscovite society and politics.

HIST 456 Imperial Russia (5)

Russian history from 1700 to 1905. Major themes include: efforts at reform by Russian tsars, intellectuals and peasants; the development of the revolutionary movement; and the social and political life of the Russian people.

HIST 457 20th Century Russia (5)

Russia in a century of unrest. The course will explore the intent and results of revolution, including the Marxist "victory" in 1917, Joseph Stalin's "revolution from above" and the Gorbachev "revolution" in the 1980s.

HIST 461 Colonial Latin America (5)

An outline of the Spanish and Portuguese conquests in the Western hemisphere and the two countries' political, economic and social development. An emphasis upon the process by which they attained independence.

HIST 463 Cultural History of Latin America (5)

Focuses on the evolution of institutions in Hispanic America related to the thought of their day.

HIST 464 History of Mexico (5)

A study of Mexico from pre-conquest times to the present. Attention is given to social, cultural and political developments with special emphasis on the National Period.

HIST 465 The Rise and Fall of Slavery in the New World, 1500-1888 (5)

This course traces New World Slavery from its origins in the islands off the west coast of Africa to the end of slavery in United States, Cuba and Brazil in the late 19th century. Topics covered include the Atlantic Slave Trade, the effects of the slave trade on Africa, the Haitian Revolution, slavery and the Enlightenment philosophes, the profitability of slavery and the abolition movement. (Cross-listed AAST 465)

HIST 466 Slavery in the U.S. (5)

This course covers the rise and fall of slavery in the United States and its colonial antecedents. Topics include the transition from indentured servitude to slavery in the Chesapeake in the 1680s, the role slaves played on both sides of the Revolutionary War, the rise of the Cotton Kingdom, the political controversy over slavery, the rise of the abolition movement and the disintegration of slavery during the Civil War. (Cross-listed AAST 466)

HIST 468 History of Modern American Women (4)

This course explores the history of women in America from the 1900s to the present through the use of a wide range of contemporary documents that allow a variety of women of the immediate past to speak for themselves. (Cross-listed WMST 468)

HIST 469 Built Environments of North America: Symbol and Structure (3)

This course is a survey of North American architectural landscapes from the colonial period to the present. This course will examine such topics as the diffusion of major styles of residential, commercial and public architecture across the continent, the relationship of geology and climate to the availability of building materials and technology and the effect of these on the human built environment, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Special emphasis will be placed on the visual differentiation of building styles and the symbolic, political and philosophical foundations of architectural form and decoration. (Cross-listed GEOG 469, PLAN 469)

HIST 470 The First American Frontier, 1607-1763 (4)

The development of American life, thought and institutions in the earliest settlements to the end of the French and Indian War. Topics include Puritanism, colonial wars, Native Americans and the family.

HIST 471 The Era of the American Revolution, 1763-1789 (4)

Surveys the courses and consequences of the American Revolution. Course begins with the colonies in the British imperial system, explores the reasons for revolt and covers the military, political and social history of the Revolution. The class investigates the need for and the nature of the new constitution.

HIST 472 The Young Republic, The U.S. from 1783-1824 (5)

Federalists, Jeffersonians and the Era of Good Feelings. United States history from 1783 to 1824, emphasizing the conflict between nationalism and sectional interests.

HIST 473 The Age of Jackson (5)

The causes, course and effects of the Jacksonian Revolution, especially in their effect upon the development of the course of American nationality.

HIST 475 Civil War and Reconstruction (5)

The struggle over slavery and attendant problems. Particular emphasis is given to the philosophy and statesmanship of Abraham Lincoln.

HIST 478 Contemporary America (5)

A consideration of United States history in recent decades. Attention is given to the United State's position as a world leader, the interplay of foreign and domestic affairs and the oscillations of U.S. policy in recent times.

HIST 481 History of American Foreign Relations from 1898 (5)

A topical approach to the expansion of America's open-door empire from 1898 to the present, with emphasis on the patterns of U.S. intervention around the globe, the impact of World Wars and the history of the Cold War.

HIST 482 History of the American West (5)

This course surveys the development of the American West from the wilderness to a distinctive region. It emphasizes the place and peoples, and examines the region's role in the history of the United States.

HIST 483 History and Government of the Pacific Northwest (5)

An intensive study of the principal events and institutions of the four states comprising the Pacific Northwest and especially of their relations to the Federal Union. A comparative analysis of British Columbia is also included.

HIST 487 Economic History of the United States (5)Prerequisite: junior standing.

Economic development of the United States from the early colonial period to the present: explorations, westward movement, labor, rise of great industries, world trade and post-war economic problems. (Cross-listed ECON 412)

Senior Capstone Seminar includes a major history paper on an instructor-designated theme (such as History of Disease) and end-of program assessment.

HIST 493 Certificate Synthesis and Assessment (1) Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.Advised by the certificate coordinator, the student will compile an assessment portfolio of significant assignments completed during the relevant certificate program at EWU. The student will also produce a paper addressing her or his experiences in the certificate program as a means of guided academic and/or career planning. Taken during the term in which the student expects to complete the requirements for the certificate, this independent study course allows the student to engage in portfolio development and summative assessment of the certificate program.

HIST 495 History Internship (1-5)Prerequisite: permission of the instructor, department chair and college dean.

An opportunity for history students to work with historical agencies. Individual learning and career development contact is coordinated through the University Internship Office.